Need Advice for Commodore and Atari Computers Accessories

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

Oh yeah while I'm here, I got to test one of the C64s with the new PSU, and it works!

I still have no proper video cables currently (waiting for the mail deliveries), but I managed to find an old RF switcher box in my stuff.
The thing was really shitty to get working, but eventually was good enough to just get video and sound of that C64.
Played around for an hour (I can only do ao much with no way to load my own code other than write it manually), but the computer itself seems to work very well.
The keyboard has a few keys that are a bit unresponsive, but that is not something impossible to improve later with some more conductive material on the plungers or the board itself.

I also ran this BASIC line of code to see if I was able to get any sound, and it worked, so I know the SID chip should be good as well

10 poke 54272+rnd(1) *25,rnd(1) *256 : goto 10

When using rf don't bother with a switchbox, just get a good quality rca cable and:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kentek-F-Type-Male-to-RCA-Female-Video-Adapter-Coupler-Coax-Coaxial-RG-59-RG-6/274435182108?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item3fe59c8e1c:g:Gl4AAOSwp0hfGD5I&amdata=enc:AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkY3FSd4Ad8xn3oRtkVexxrK1jjbkJZHHEhXm1%2BVbIR9OGZ7rDnW1kXIvrwLNHO%2BZYaAOqyLzuPwPBvTxCw3Z2M8Vhmeg%2Bvnk%2FHgjws4rKyAFNeVYotZpNuz%2FPu%2FefL36pN6f2DOIiObe5eFrmJQG3XZbjGBMhXpxWw1cTFRQZ1vnRGTFsbC9sHII9MkUuf9GKo53pR%2FLNFz1C6EbW5O6k4rgmnD9z%2BPXeSaVwjymURPgY9soEqOirYFAKN%2F8f91cx%2FeaNhBnx25XK8ilEkQ5vzcEzLlyeJ8FL2o2jKfveWvpu3%2F8nyPTCTGmGoFCZglatL0wbBT1lXaG8%2BWxwHGT8t5iqxnD%2BjeUI22vioVNmzP2q%2Fin%2FIpUcElDxsEQBtgekCfN%2FeZTjdMdpRHWDMtw3GPiAlC%2B9XpLMPHkZcNnLinIFae1byy0%2BfgwfeYoIG1PYnFDrfAzFtMVmvxhtXNGVD%2FBghUarMRvbjmCZyedEEoUla6L7K6vYYDjNzSTSpPbnwy8%2FJMq7TCxeBjffUc00EtldtKGRx4%2B45zlCBpx8TeuFlKGzJ5KMdv2H9MObYLWnQIYwg8MLr%2FmU330T5ez7U4Fu4uMb4L%2BIvbCitrLpjXt8zVIAqSFVrBPJX4rpDyC7Woh%2BSGGoXOnXKj0KiqVlG44QWTHPn6LYsWFJQmRGE2ghZ6S%2FG3DQAyDJHGFylyL6u6J8N%2FQ3EeiHmzVbm0b6iguEmkn2jh3RrBzVD70M9ZczsbdHY25p4uPcCiIv%2F1vWWKLJfWTHyHP9Y83zwfctqQ%3D%3D|cksum:274435182108214d96b1406c42558d400f8261840b8a|ampidL_CLK|clp:2334524&LH_BIN=1

Should provide much better quality over rf, if you have to use it, note on hd TV's you may have to rescan channels as well

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Any plan's to get an Autographies Microsound 64 keyboard for your 64? They are great they give the user direct real time control over the SID chip. No scanning is involved, so it's possible to play runs and trills at speed. There's a choice of either monophonic or three-voice poly modes, and you can even select the in-between variant of two voices, should you find that prospect appealing.

The strongest part of the system - for me at least - is the clear and simple screen display that allows you to organise the various available parameters for each 'sound', before storing it on disk or cassette for future use. Autographies provide no preset voices or silly suggestions about how to make the sound of a violin.

You know of any good midi interfaces? For atari 8bit?

 

[VinsCool]

Any plan's to get an Autographies Microsound 64 keyboard for your 64? They are great they give the user direct real time control over the SID chip. No scanning is involved, so it's possible to play runs and trills at speed. There's a choice of either monophonic or three-voice poly modes, and you can even select the in-between variant of two voices, should you find that prospect appealing.

The strongest part of the system - for me at least - is the clear and simple screen display that allows you to organise the various available parameters for each 'sound', before storing it on disk or cassette for future use. Autographies provide no preset voices or silly suggestions about how to make the sound of a violin.

Very cool, however I probably won't need this, due to the nature of what I do is mainly done through music trackers.

When using rf don't bother with a switchbox, just get a good quality rca cable and:

I can see the improvement but I will get composite and s-video instead of ever having to deal with RF again.

It's just a matter of days until I receive my video cables anyway

 

[AmandaRose]

When using rf don't bother with a switchbox, just get a good quality rca cable and:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kentek-F-Type-Male-to-RCA-Female-Video-Adapter-Coupler-Coax-Coaxial-RG-59-RG-6/274435182108?_trkparms=ispr=1&hash=item3fe59c8e1c:g:Gl4AAOSwp0hfGD5I&amdata=enc:AQAFAAACcBaobrjLl8XobRIiIML1V4Imu%2Fn%2BzU5L90Z278x5ickkY3FSd4Ad8xn3oRtkVexxrK1jjbkJZHHEhXm1%2BVbIR9OGZ7rDnW1kXIvrwLNHO%2BZYaAOqyLzuPwPBvTxCw3Z2M8Vhmeg%2Bvnk%2FHgjws4rKyAFNeVYotZpNuz%2FPu%2FefL36pN6f2DOIiObe5eFrmJQG3XZbjGBMhXpxWw1cTFRQZ1vnRGTFsbC9sHII9MkUuf9GKo53pR%2FLNFz1C6EbW5O6k4rgmnD9z%2BPXeSaVwjymURPgY9soEqOirYFAKN%2F8f91cx%2FeaNhBnx25XK8ilEkQ5vzcEzLlyeJ8FL2o2jKfveWvpu3%2F8nyPTCTGmGoFCZglatL0wbBT1lXaG8%2BWxwHGT8t5iqxnD%2BjeUI22vioVNmzP2q%2Fin%2FIpUcElDxsEQBtgekCfN%2FeZTjdMdpRHWDMtw3GPiAlC%2B9XpLMPHkZcNnLinIFae1byy0%2BfgwfeYoIG1PYnFDrfAzFtMVmvxhtXNGVD%2FBghUarMRvbjmCZyedEEoUla6L7K6vYYDjNzSTSpPbnwy8%2FJMq7TCxeBjffUc00EtldtKGRx4%2B45zlCBpx8TeuFlKGzJ5KMdv2H9MObYLWnQIYwg8MLr%2FmU330T5ez7U4Fu4uMb4L%2BIvbCitrLpjXt8zVIAqSFVrBPJX4rpDyC7Woh%2BSGGoXOnXKj0KiqVlG44QWTHPn6LYsWFJQmRGE2ghZ6S%2FG3DQAyDJHGFylyL6u6J8N%2FQ3EeiHmzVbm0b6iguEmkn2jh3RrBzVD70M9ZczsbdHY25p4uPcCiIv%2F1vWWKLJfWTHyHP9Y83zwfctqQ%3D%3D|cksum:274435182108214d96b1406c42558d400f8261840b8a|ampidL_CLK|clp:2334524&LH_BIN=1

Should provide much better quality over rf, if you have to use it, note on hd TV's you may have to rescan channels as well

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You know of any good midi interfaces? For atari 8bit?

Midimate could be an option but perhaps VinsCool has a better suggestion.

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

Midimate could be an option but perhaps VinsCool has a better suggestion.

With that info they make a midi mate clone:
https://ataribits.weebly.com/midi.html


Though I believe he just sells bare pcbs, you have to assemble yourself (no issue), all together it's probably about 20usd, 12 usd for the board, another 10 for parts

 

[AmandaRose]

@VinsCool Just made an offer to someone for a XEGS comes with two games one joystick one light gun three games and keyboard. And supposedly in full working condition. Hopefully it will end up being my Christmas present to myself

 

[VinsCool]

@VinsCool Just made an offer to someone for a XEGS comes with two games one joystick one light gun three games and keyboard. And supposedly in full working condition. Hopefully it will end up being my Christmas present to myself

Just got myself the shipping issues sorted for the other Atari 800xl I bought from an old lady. (The one apparently not working but in really good shape with complete box).

So another one should come!

 

[AmandaRose]

@VinsCool look what you have done lol you have got me looking at other purchases for my collection. Struggling not to hit buy on this Dragon 32. Its an old 8bit computer we had here in the UK. Don't think it was sold anywhere else.

 

[VinsCool]

@VinsCool look what you have done lol you have got me looking at other purchases for my collection. Struggling not to hit buy on this Dragon 32. Its an old 8bit computer we had here in the UK. Don't think it was sold anywhere else.

View attachment 237413

Don't ask me to be reasonable because I know very well I would have taken it lol

Don't forget I was looking for a few Commodore accessories, bought twice as many more than intended, and basically have bought 2 Atari 800xl that are not even here yet

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

Just got myself the shipping issues sorted for the other Atari 800xl I bought from an old lady. (The one apparently not working but in really good shape with complete box).

So another one should come!

Well you have parts, and you can do a dual pokey mod

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@VinsCool look what you have done lol you have got me looking at other purchases for my collection. Struggling not to hit buy on this Dragon 32. Its an old 8bit computer we had here in the UK. Don't think it was sold anywhere else.



View attachment 237413

There used to be a place that had a whole warehouse of boxed nos ntsc dragon 64 for like 70 usd, now they're sold out, and people now scalp them

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Hiya!

I figured I might be asking here, since I recently got a bunch of old Commodore machines from my step father.

What Power Supplies should I get for my VIC20, C64 and C128?
I was told the originals (that I do not have yet) are a no-no, so I might as well buy them now.

Also video cables, I need Composite video, and audio through RCA cables (or anything that makes me not use the RF port, or require hardware modifications for the time being), What should I get for these 3 systems as well?

I don't mind if things are a bit expensive, I just want to make sure they are reliable quality.
And also compatible with North American (60hz) standard, lol
Links on ebay or amazon or anything are welcome.

Also, if any of you have "must get" suggestions, I'm open for them!

Thanks for in advance.

For C64 at least you really want it to be PAL, as that is what most software is made for (they were far more popular in Europe) and will run faster on a NTSC console, the audio will also be faster. But you may already know that.

 

[AmandaRose]

Well you have parts, and you can do a dual pokey mod

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There used to be a place that had a whole warehouse of boxed nos ntsc dragon 64 for like 70 usd, now they're sold out, and people now scalp them

Hmm interesting I always thought the Dragon was only available in th UK but further research says it was rather popular in Spain as well. And yes you are right it was available in the USA which is strange as it was basically a clone of the TRS-80

 

[VinsCool]

For C64 at least you really want it to be PAL, as that is what most software is made for (they were far more popular in Europe) and will run faster on a NTSC console, the audio will also be faster. But you may already know that.

Yeah, well aware.
Usually there are ways to get stuff run at the right speed, most of the time.

Ultimately I would just convert one of my machines into PAL with some chips and traces being bridged, if I really wanted to get the PAL support but the convenience of American power supplies (that if I understand correctly, anyway).

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

Hmm interesting I always thought the Dragon was only available in th UK but further research says it was rather popular in Spain as well. And yes you are right it was available in the USA which is strange as it was basically a clone of the TRS-80

Yep, here it was called a tano dragon 64

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

Yeah, well aware.
Usually there are ways to get stuff run at the right speed, most of the time.

Ultimately I would just convert one of my machines into PAL with some chips and traces being bridged, if I really wanted to get the PAL support but the convenience of American power supplies (that if I understand correctly, anyway).

Well all (most modern) hd TV's are multi system and support pal/ntsc/SECAM/pal60 so video format doesn't matter as much, unless you want to use a crt...iirc multi system crts were common outside the usa, for C64 I believe you have to change the vic-II, and swap the oscillator out

Same with Atari, most new stuff is made for pal, though USUALLY you can get it to run, either with sound issues or graphical glitches, depends how tight the timings are

I wish more vcs demos were ntsc, cause the ntsc tia has 128 colors!

 

[VinsCool]

Well all (most modern) hd TV's are multi system and support pal/ntsc/SECAM/pal60 so video format doesn't matter as much, unless you want to use a crt...iirc multi system crts were common outside the usa, for C64 I believe you have to change the vic-II, and swap the oscillator out

Same with Atari, most new stuff is made for pal, though USUALLY you can get it to run, either with sound issues or graphical glitches, depends how tight the timings are

I wish more vcs demos were ntsc, cause the ntsc tia has 128 colors!

At least VCS demos do run at the correct speed here. Just the wrong colours since it tries to pull out the PAL palette, and the bits are not all matching lol

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

At least VCS demos do run at the correct speed here. Just the wrong colours since it tries to pull out the PAL palette, and the bits are not all matching lol

Pal 2600 does run slightly slower, cpu runs at 1.18 mhz

 

[ClancyDaEnlightened]

okay so apparently the sio2midi (midimate) adapters were designed more for external midi control,

all that's needed to turn your vcs, atari 8bit, or c64 into a midi instrument is a pair of joy stick connectors, and a teensy 2.0

this is exactly what i've been searching for... didn't know they ported littlescales stuff from the 2600....

http://www.phobotron.de/midijoy_en.html